RenoHuskerDu
Songster
Most of our 9 hens are a year old now, a few are older (mix of Faverolles, Marans, RIR, Golden Comet, Sagitta, Ameraucana). We have been getting 75-80% average egg production since they matured. When summer heat hit and hurt laying, we kept up egg production by icing pellets, so they would eat better and stay cool. The cold slurry was a big hit.
Now that the weather is finally turning cooler in TX, eggs are down to about 50% - that is, only about half an egg per day per hen. I'm wondering if we should keep up the iced pellets even though the days are only up to the 80s now, or if our girls are just slowing down due to age. One is 4 years old and does not lay at all, we only keep her for sentimental reasons.
How many years on average should a hen lay?
Is this just winter doldrums starting up?
Now that the weather is finally turning cooler in TX, eggs are down to about 50% - that is, only about half an egg per day per hen. I'm wondering if we should keep up the iced pellets even though the days are only up to the 80s now, or if our girls are just slowing down due to age. One is 4 years old and does not lay at all, we only keep her for sentimental reasons.
How many years on average should a hen lay?
Is this just winter doldrums starting up?